Looking Ahead – Week 2
Dave Poleck
2010-10-15
The first week of the NHL season is done and near the top of your NHL standings with a 3-0 record… the Toronto Maple Leafs? Should be an interesting year.
As for the upcoming seven day schedules, be wary of a few "best bet" teams playing stretches of road games. Sometimes, teams actually prefer long road trips at the beginning of the season in order to pull the group together, but it is still something you will want to keep an eye out for.
Carolina from Sunday to Saturday, Anaheim from Wednesday to Tuesday, and LA from Friday to Thursday play ALL four of their games on the road. Both Anaheim (4.30) and LA (4.25) are the top ranked teams for those respective weeks. The Ducks were outscored 13-2 in their first three road games of the season, so be wary.
While the Canes (3.87) aren't the top ranked, they head to Vancouver and then through the Pacific Division's toughest; San Jose, LA and Phoenix. The European teams will be slowly making their way back into your fantasy lives over the course of this weekend. The Blue Jackets play Friday, while Boston, San Jose and Phoenix all play Saturday.
With the help of Jason Arbuthnot's fantastic/phenomenal/incredible Fantasy Planner, I want to take a look at some of the long term trends that poolies should keep note of over the next few weeks.
As I said above, the Bruins open their North American schedule this Saturday. But don't let the fact that they're coming off a two European game week fool you into thinking you should stock up on Boston players. At least not just yet. They only play seven games between this Saturday, October 16 and November 3. In that stretch, they face New Jersey, a home and away with the Capitals and dare I say it, the Maple Leafs.
The Canes on the other hand, don't play their actual home opener until October 27 against Washington. Their second home games is against Crosby and the Penguins. Lucky them.
Another team to back off from until November begins is the Detroit Red Wings. They only play four games over the next 14 days, and six over the next 21 days. Looking at the chart below should also clue you in to stay away from them in the near future; they're in the "steer clear" section for all ten weekly schedules posted. By the time November 4 rolls around, a team like Chicago will have played five more games than the Wings. If you own some Hawks, that would be a smart time to catch an unknowing owner of a Red Wings player off guard.
How about a team that you want to invest in right now? Well aside from the aforementioned Blackhawks and their 11 games over the next 21 days, my choice would be the Philadelphia, who has seven home games over that same stretch and only two on the road.
Dave's Best of the Best
I can't really review last week's choice for best bet because it was the Canucks schedule from Wednesday to Tuesday (they have only played one game from that stretch so we will have to wait and see). As for this week….
Saturday Oct 16 to Friday Oct 22
Tampa Bay – @Fla, Dal, NYI, @Atl
The Lightning will be able to keep their hot start going against these four non playoff teams from last (and probably this) season. They have a two day break in between playing Dallas and the back to back games with Long Island and Atlanta, so that should give them enough time to recover.
| Friday October 15 to Thursday October 21, 2010 | ||||||
| Best Bets | ||||||
| NYI 4.39 – four games @PIT, COL, @TOR, @TB | ||||||
| Vancouver 4.08 – four games @LA, CAR, @MIN, @CHI | ||||||
| Anaheim 4.05 – four games ATL, PHO, @CBJ, @PHI | ||||||
| Pittsburgh 4.01 – four games NYI, @PHI, OTT, @NAS | ||||||
| Colorado 3.91 – four games @NJ, @NYI, @NYR, SJ | ||||||
| Steer Clear | ||||||
| Detroit 1.77 – two games @PHO, CAL | ||||||
| Edmonton 1.95 – two games @CAL, MIN | ||||||
| Philadelphia 1.99 – two games PIT, ANA | ||||||
| Ottawa 2.07 – two games @MON, @PIT | ||||||
| St. Louis 2.09 – two games @DAL, @CHI | ||||||
| Saturday October 16 to Friday October 22, 2010 | ||||||
| Best Bets | ||||||
| Tampa Bay 4.37 – four games @FLA, DAL, NYI, @ATL | ||||||
| Calgary 4.24 – four games EDM, @NAS, @DET, @CBJ | ||||||
| Minnesota 4.24 – four games CBJ, VAN, @EDM, @VAN | ||||||
| Vancouver 4.10 – four games CAR, @MIN, @CHI, MIN | ||||||
| Chicago 3.66 – four games BUF, STL, VAN, @STL | ||||||
| Steer Clear | ||||||
| Montreal 1.75 – two games OTT, NJ | ||||||
| Detroit 1.77 – two games @PHO, CAL | ||||||
| New Jersey 1.82 – two games BOS, @MON | ||||||
| Edmonton 1.95 – two games @CAL, MIN | ||||||
| LA 1.95 – two games CAR, @PHO | ||||||
| Sunday October 17 to Saturday October 23, 2010 | ||||||
| Best Bets | ||||||
| Vancouver 4.10 – four games CAR, @MIN, @CHI, MIN | ||||||
| Anaheim 3.98 – four games PHO, @CBJ, @PHI, @DET | ||||||
| Chicago 3.88 – four games STL, VAN, @STL, CBJ | ||||||
| Carolina 3.87 – four games @VAN, @SJ, @LA, @PHO | ||||||
| NYI 3.48 – three games @TOR, @TB, @FLA | ||||||
| Steer Clear | ||||||
| New Jersey 1.85 – two games @MON, BUF | ||||||
| Montreal 1.85 – two games NJ, @OTT | ||||||
| Detroit 1.88 – two games CAL, ANA | ||||||
| Edmonton 1.88 – two games MIN, SJ | ||||||
| Florida 2.11 – two games DAL, NYI | ||||||
| Monday October 18 to Sunday October 24, 2010 | ||||||
| Best Bets | ||||||
| SJ 4.32 – four games CAR, @COL, @EDM, @CAL | ||||||
| Nashville 4.14 – four games CAL, PIT, @DAL, @TB | ||||||
| Tampa Bay 4.12 – four games DAL, NYI, @ATL, NAS | ||||||
| Calgary 3.96 – four games @NAS, @DET, @CBJ, SJ | ||||||
| Chicago 3.88 – four games STL, VAN, @STL, CBJ | ||||||
| Steer Clear | ||||||
| Montreal 1.85 – two games NJ, @OTT | ||||||
| Detroit 1.88 – two games CAL, ANA | ||||||
| Edmonton 1.88 – two games MIN, SJ | ||||||
| Phoenix 1.94 – two games LA, CAR | ||||||
| Florida 2.11 – two games DAL, NYI | ||||||
| Tuesday October 19 to Monday October 25, 2010 | ||||||
| Best Bets | ||||||
| SJ 4.32 – four games CAR, @COL, @EDM, @CAL | ||||||
| Nashville 4.14 – four games CAL, PIT, @DAL, @TB | ||||||
| LA 4.11 – four games CAR, @PHO, @COL, @MIN | ||||||
| Minnesota 4.08 – four games VAN, @EDM, @VAN, LA | ||||||
| Calgary 3.96 – four games @NAS, @DET, @CBJ, SJ | ||||||
| Steer Clear | ||||||
| Colorado 1.77 – two games SJ, LA | ||||||
| St. Louis 1.82 – two games CHI, PIT | ||||||
| Ottawa 1.84 – two games @BUF, MON | ||||||
| Detroit 1.88 – two games CAL, ANA | ||||||
| Edmonton 1.88 – two games MIN, SJ | ||||||
| Wednesday October 20 to Tuesday October 26, 2010 | ||||||
| Best Bets | ||||||
| Anaheim 4.30 – four games @CBJ, @PHI, @DET, @DAL | ||||||
| Calgary 4.18 – four games @DET, @CBJ, SJ, EDM | ||||||
| Philadelphia 4.12 – four games ANA, TOR, @CBJ, BUF | ||||||
| LA 4.11 – four games CAR, @PHO, @COL, @MIN | ||||||
| Phoenix 4.02 – four games LA, CAR, @MON, @OTT | ||||||
| Steer Clear | ||||||
| St. Louis 1.82 – two games CHI, PIT | ||||||
| Boston 1.84 – two games WAS, NYR | ||||||
| Detroit 1.88 – two games CAL, ANA | ||||||
| Carolina 1.90 – two games @LA, @PHO | ||||||
| Washington 1.95 – two games @BOS, ATL | ||||||
| Thursday October 21 to Wednesday October 27, 2010 | ||||||
| Best Bets | ||||||
| Calgary 4.18 – four games @DET, @CBJ, SJ, EDM | ||||||
| Philadelphia 4.12 – four games ANA, TOR, @CBJ, BUF | ||||||
| San Jose 4.06 – four games @COL, @EDM, @CAL, NJ | ||||||
| Tampa Bay 4.05 – four games NYI, @ATL, NAS, PIT | ||||||
| Phoenix 4.02 – four games LA, CAR, @MON, @OTT | ||||||
| Steer Clear | ||||||
| St. Louis 1.82 – two games CHI, PIT | ||||||
| Boston 1.84 – two games WAS, NYR | ||||||
| Carolina 1.87 – two games @PHO, WAS | ||||||
| Detroit 1.88 – two games CAL, ANA | ||||||
| Vancouver 1.95 – two games MIN, COL | ||||||
| Friday October 22 to Thursday October 28, 2010 | ||||||
| Best Bets | ||||||
| LA 4.25 – four games @COL, @MIN, @CHI, @DAL | ||||||
| Calgary 4.15 – four games @CBJ, SJ, EDM, COL | ||||||
| Phoenix 4.10 – four games CAR, @MON, @OTT, @DET | ||||||
| Columbus 3.88 – four games CAL, @CHI, PHI, EDM | ||||||
| Ottawa 3.66 – four games @BUF, MON, PHO, FLA | ||||||
| Steer Clear | ||||||
| Detroit 1.85 – two games ANA, PHO | ||||||
| Carolina 1.86 – two games @PHO, WAS | ||||||
| Vancouver 1.95 – two games MIN, COL | ||||||
| Boston 1.98 – two games NYR, TOR | ||||||
| NYI 2.11 – two games @FLA, @MON | ||||||
| Saturday October 23 to Friday October 29, 2010 | ||||||
| Best Bets | ||||||
| LA 4.25 – four games @COL, @MIN, @CHI, @DAL | ||||||
| Philadelphia 4.17 – four games TOR, @CBJ, BUF, @PIT | ||||||
| Montreal 4.16 – four games @OTT, PHO, NYI, @NYI | ||||||
| Phoenix 4.10 – four games CAR, @MON, @OTT, @DET | ||||||
| Edmonton 3.93 – four games SJ, @CAL, @CBJ, @CHI | ||||||
| Steer Clear | ||||||
| Vancouver 0.95 – one game COL | ||||||
| Tampa Bay 1.82 – two games NAS, PIT | ||||||
| Minnesota 1.84 – two games LA, WAS | ||||||
| Detroit 1.85 – two games ANA, PHO | ||||||
| St. Louis 1.91 – two games PIT, @NAS | ||||||
| Sunday October 24 to Saturday October 30, 2010 | ||||||
| Best Bets | ||||||
| Philadelphia 4.16 – four games @CBJ, BUF, @PIT, NYI | ||||||
| Phoenix 4.11 – four games @MON, @OTT, @DET, TB | ||||||
| Montreal 4.16 – four games PHO, NYI, @NYI, FLA | ||||||
| NYR 4.07 – four games NJ, ATL, CAR, @TOR | ||||||
| New Jersey – four games @NYR, @SJ, @ANA, @LA | ||||||
| Steer Clear | ||||||
| Vancouver 0.95 – one game COL | ||||||
| Detroit 1.68 – two games PHO, NAS | ||||||
| St. Louis 1.99 – two games @NAS, ATL | ||||||
| Boston 2.16 – two games TOR, @OTT | ||||||
| Ottawa 2.64 – three games PHO, FLA, BOS |
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UPCOMING GAMES
| Apr 26 - 19:04 |
 WSH
| vs |
 NYR | |
| Apr 26 - 19:04 |
 NSH
| vs |
 VAN | |
| Apr 26 - 22:04 |
 COL
| vs |
 WPG | |
| Apr 26 - 22:04 |
 L.A
| vs |
 EDM
| |
Starting Goalies
Top Skater Views
CHI
T.B
CARTop Goalie Profile Views
NYI
LINE COMBOS
| Frequency |
WSH Players
| |
|---|---|---|
| 13.7 | ALEX OVECHKIN T.J. OSHIE CONNOR MCMICHAEL | |
| 13.5 | TOM WILSON DYLAN STROME ALIAKSEI PROTAS | |
| 13.2 | IVAN MIROSHNICHENKO BECK MALENSTYN NIC DOWD | |
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